All I know is I'm looking for a lot more toughness this year, especially out of our defense. I readily acknowledge how young AU was and what the coaches did/didn't have to work with. But getting beat like they did against Arky, LSU, Georgia and Bammer is unacceptable in any situation. I've said this before but it bears repeating. There were several games last year where I had no doubt in my mind that they quit. Whether it was the coaching staff or the players themselves...doesn't matter. I can take getting 40 plus hung on a team if it's simply a matter of a huge talent differential. But watching them lay down and not even try to stop UGA from running between the tackles 70 plays in a row...having an LSU player say publically that AU's players quit....made me sick to my stomach. Anyone recall the LSU fullback say, "Come on, you're better than this."?
I'm thinking/hoping it was because we had no leaders out there. No Josh Bynes to stare you into playing harder. No Nick Fairly saying , "I'll handle this shit myself". I believe
has the right mentality and will make his guys play with a chip on their shoulders. Pat Dye's first team went 5-6. They were half as talented as most teams they played. But they got after your ass and they were playing for a coach that said, "Fuck shaking their hands. Kick em' in the teeth and head to the locker room." That's what I want to see more of.